WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. -- Shepherd University (5-3) swept a doubleheader with West Liberty (2-15) in softball action at West Liberty on Tuesday. The Rams gained an 8-1 win in game one and added a 3-2 triumph in the nightcap.
Shepherd took a 1-0 lead in the second inning in game one on an RBI-single by junior second baseman Caitlin Donnelly (Newark, Del./Padua Academy).
The Rams added two runs in the fourth behind an RBI-double from Donnelly and an RBI-single from graduate student third baseman Nicole Purtell (Centreville, Va./Centreville).
Shepherd added four runs on four hits and two errors in the fifth. Donnelly smacked an RBI-single and Purtell added an RBI-double to key the scoring.
The Rams increased their lead to 8-0 with a run in the sixth as senior designated player Cameron Davis (Ayden, N.C./South Central/UNC Pembroke) walked and later scored when senior catcher Alex Mantz (Edinburg, Va./Central) reached on a fielder's choice.
West Liberty scored a run in the sixth on an RBI-single by Anna Welsh.
Donnelly went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs to lead an 11-hit attack for the Rams. Purtell and Mantz each added a pair of hits.
Junior pitcher Hannah Ruffner (Charles Town, W.Va./Washington) (5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K, 2 BB) (3-0) earned the win for the Rams with relief help from freshman pitcher Abby McBride (Northeast, Md./Rising Sun) (2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 K, 0 BB). West Liberty starter Ashlyn Tapman (3.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 5 K, 0 BB) (0-7) took the loss.
The Rams took a 1-0 lead in the first in the nightcap as Purtell led off with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of senior outfielder Hannah Beeler (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim).
West Liberty tied the game in the third. Sydney Johnson walked and later scored on a single by Jaden Conrad.
Purtell belted a two-run single in the fifth to give the Rams a 3-1 advantage.
The Hilltoppers added a run in the sixth on a solo homer by Welsh.
Purtell went 2-for-3 to lead the Rams.
Graduate student pitcher Sarah Lamper (Marshall, Va./Fauquier) (5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 8 K, 3 BB) (1-0) gained the win for the Rams. Senior pitcher Katie Laing (Jefferson, Md./Brunswick) (1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 K, 1 BB) notched the save. Ryleigh Morgan (5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 K, 1 BB) took the loss.
The Rams return to action on Friday when they travel to Florida to face American International at 2 p.m. and Southern Connecticut State at 4:30 p.m.
